The Toronto Maple Leafs have evolved significantly since winning the Draft Lottery in 2016 and selecting Auston Matthews as the first overall pick. Starting the 2016-17 season, the team built its core around three young stars: Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander. At that time, all three players were yet to celebrate their 20th birthdays, necessitating a strategy to balance the lineup with experienced veterans who could mentor the fledgling core.

The Maple Leafs Youngsters Benefitted from Solid Veterans

Over the next five seasons, the Maple Leafs added seasoned players like Patrick Marleau (38), Joe Thornton (41), Jason Spezza (36), Nick Foligno (33), and Wayne Simmonds (33) to provide guidance and stability. This approach aimed to nurture the young trio through the early stages of their NHL careers.

Fast-forward to the present. Matthews and Marner are now 26 years old, Nylander is 27, and each has accrued eight full seasons and over 600 games of NHL experience. This includes both regular season and playoffs. With this wealth of experience, the Maple Leafs’ strategy has shifted towards integrating younger, more dynamic support players.

Domi and Bertuzzi Added to the Team’s Change in Tactics

In the past season, the team brought in 28-year-olds Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi, demonstrating a preference for players in their prime rather than older veterans. Additionally, the Maple Leafs have promoted promising prospects from within their organization, such as Matthew Knies (21), Nick Robertson (22), Pontus Holmberg (24), and Bobby McMann (27).

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, there is potential for even younger talent to join the roster. Notably, Easton Cowan, the 19-year-old recipient of the 2024 OHL Player of the Year Award and the Leafs’ first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, and Fraser Minton, who will soon turn 20 and was selected in the second round of the 2023 draft, could make the team out of training camp.

If these young players make the roster, the established core forwards—Matthews, Marner, and Nylander—will take on the mentoring role that was once provided to them. This shift signifies a new chapter for the Maple Leafs, where the experienced core forwards are now poised to guide the next generation of talent, continuing the cycle of development and leadership within the team.